The document discusses the peace settlement after World War 1. It explains that the Allies (Britain, France, USA) had to agree on a peace treaty with the defeated countries like Germany. There were disagreements between the Allies on the terms, as France and Britain wanted harsher punishment of Germany due to the devastation and casualties they suffered, while the US wanted impartiality. US President Woodrow Wilson proposed the 14 Points to serve as the basis for the peace settlement, but the Allies refused to accept them fully due to Germany initially rejecting the terms.

1. REVISION
PEACE TREATIES
THE PEACE
SETTLEMENT
01

2. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
INTRODUCTION
• World War One lasted from 1914-1918. Fighting ended with the
armistice on November 11th 1918.
• The Allies (Britain, France and the USA) won.
• They then had to agree a peace treaty with the losers – including
Germany.

3. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
THREE CONCERNS TO THINK ABOUT
• Millions of people were dead or injured.
• Countries like Belgium and France were devastated – the main
powers had spent too much money on the war.
• Many people wanted Germany to take all the blame, especially in
Britain and France - so Germany and its allies weren’t allowed to
take part in the talks.
• Everyone wanted to make sure a war like this wouldn’t happen
again, but they couldn’t agree on how to do this – the system of
alliances had obviously failed.

4. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
THE BIG THREE: FRANCE, BRITAIN, USA
• All three countries had ideas about the settlement, and they often
disagreed.
• So a compromise was reached – only some of their ideas became
part of the settlement.
• The key fact to remember is that the French had suffered badly, and
the British had also suffered – this meant they both wanted to
punish the Germans.
• But people in the USA had suffered less – so they were less
emotional and wanted to stay impartial.

5. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
WILSON SUGGESTED 14 POINTS
• President Wilson had come up with the 14 Points in January 1918
when the Germans were asking for a truce.
• Germans rejected them then, but when the fighting ended they
changed their minds and wanted to base the peace settlement on
them.
• The Allies refused Wilson’s 14 Points because the Germans had
rejected them before.
• But The 14 Points were an important part of the peace process -
especially point 14 which called for a League of Nations to settle
disputes. This was going to become very important between the
two world wars.

6. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
WILSON’S 14 POINTS
1. No secret treaties.
2. Freedom of movement on the sea for all.
3. Free trade between countries.
4. Disarmament by all countries.
5. Colonies to have a say in their own future.
6. Russia to be free of German troops.
7. Belgium to be independent.
8. Alsace-Lorraine to go to France.
9. New frontier between Austria and Italy.
10. Self-determination for people of Eastern Europe.
11. Serbia to have access to sea.
12. Self-determination for people in Turkish Empire.
13. Poland to be independent with access to the sea.
14. League of Nations to settle disputes.